The wait is over!
‘Pinoy Big Brother’ (PBB) has officially introduced its first two housemates for the much-anticipated Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0, marking the show’s 19th overall season and the second under the historic ABS-CBN and GMA Network partnership.
Revealed during GMA Network’s flagship newscast ’24 Oras’on Tuesday, October 21, the first two Gen Z celebrities to enter Bahay ni Kuya are Sofia Pablo of GMA’s Sparkle Artist Center and Joaquin Arce of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic.
Representing the Kapuso network, Sofia Pablo, 19, is best known for her breakout role as Len-Len in Prima Donnas (2019–2022). She later headlined the fantasy series Raya Sirena (2022), portrayed Florence in Luv Is: Caught in His Arms (2023), and most recently took on the lead role in ‘Prinsesa ng City Jail’ (2025). The young actress also showcased her comedic side in the sitcom ‘Open 24/7’.
For Sofia, joining ‘PBB’ is more than just another project — it’s an opportunity to reveal her true self beyond the camera.
“This is something big for me kasi I was always a victim of misconceptions, of fake news. I feel like people know me for my work, sa mga memes ko. I want them to know me for who I really am,” she said.
The actress also shared her emotional struggle about spending the holidays away from her mother for the first time.
“I think I can never be ready for that kasi, sa buong buhay ko, I never spent Christmas or New Year away from my mom. Dalawa lang kami. But then again, inisip namin na one Christmas, one New Year, kapalit na puwedeng ma-appreciate ka ng tao for who you really are. So, sugal talaga,” she admitted.
When asked about people calling her a network “favorite,” Sofia humbly replied: “I don’t want to call it favorite. I want to call it loved. Hindi ako paborito, mahal lang ako kasi mabuti akong tao. Kaya ko talagang sabihin ‘yun.”
On the Kapamilya side, ‘PBB’ introduced Joaquin Arce, an 18-year-old Star Magic newcomer and the son of film producer Neil Arce and stepson of actress Angel Locsin.
Before his acting debut, Joaquin was already active as a model, later appearing in the iWant original series ‘Tropang G.O.A.T.’ Now, he’s ready to step into the spotlight as one of Kuya’s new housemates.
In his interview with GMA Network’s Nelson Canlas, Joaquin shared that joining ‘Pinoy Big Brother’ has been a long-time dream.
“I’m a fan of the show, so I watched last season. I’m a huge fan of PBB as a show. So, I decided, why not give it a try?” he said.
The young actor also shared his preparations before entering Bahay ni Kuya, noting that he made the most out of his time with friends and family.
“I hung out with as much friends as possible. Of course, keeping quiet. But for me, in my mind, oh, I’m not going to see them for a while. Parang kailangan ko na mag-hang out sa family ko, sa mom ko, sa dad ko,” he shared.
Proving his playful side, Joaquin even revealed one quirky detail while packing for the show: “I’m big on toiletry… May dalawa akong toothpaste. Usually, pang four months ‘yung isang tube ng toothpaste. Pero may dalawa akong tube, just in case, you know, if I wanna share.”
As the first pair of housemates to be revealed, Sofia and Joaquin set the tone for what’s shaping up to be one of PBB’s most exciting and youth-driven seasons yet.
Two more housemates will be announced on October 22, also via ’24 Oras’, leading up to the official premiere of ‘Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0’ on Saturday, October 25 at 6:15 p.m.
Catch ‘PBB: Celebrity Collab Edition 2.0’ on GMA Network, Kapuso Stream, GMANetwork.com, GMA Pinoy TV, Kapamilya Online Live, and iWantTFC — where Kapusos and Kapamilyas unite once again inside the country’s most iconic house.
